Disclaimer: Besides some OC's all characters, places, history's and costumes belong to J.R.R. Tolkien
A list of OC's
Laerel- (song) a young eleth who recently worked as an advisor and diplomat for the king. Despite her young age, her knowledge of languages provided useful for dealings with Erebor and Dale.
Cellinor-(Flowing music)- known primarily for is skill in music, from which he comes from a family of musicians, was thrust into the war for lack of soldiers.
Faethalion- (Strong spirit) a sindarian noble who served as head commander under Oropher, then became an advisor to the king once Legolas came of age. During the fellowship, he resumed his role as head commander beside the king.
Others may be introduced later...
Chapter 1
The paleness of winter was quickly warming as the sun set in the sky, and a new set of woodland creatures arose from their slumber. While the snow had long left the ground, white flakes fell from the sky, the only reminder of the war which had ravaged the land. Along the rocky banks of a river a lone deer, roughly two years old, leaned down for a drink. Abruptly, it sprang into the air, tail down, and stumbled onto the banks, an arrow embedded in its neck.
The hunter emerged from the shadows quietly from the opposite end of the shore and ran across the shallow river. Taking a long white knife he slit the creature's throat, saying a few elvish words as he did so.
It had been nearly three years since the fellowship left Rivendell, and even longer since Legolas had seen his homeland, his family, his woods. While fighting the war had been difficult, the hardest part had been having no knowledge of Mirk-
No, he told himself, Greenwood. The shadow never mattered, it was also the Greenwood.
Of course he knew his father was alive. The bond they shared as father and son was beyond that of human understanding, as was that of the forest he protected. He felt his fae fade as the forest burnt, and his father had lost hope-or perhaps it was injury? Whatever it was didn't matter. What was important was that the war was over, the shadow gone, and it was time to go home.
Setting his shoulders, he began to gut the young buck. He heard familiar footsteps approach.
"Trust an elf or running over snow or fallen leaves, but for gutting an animal, a dwarf".
Turning around he saw Gimli, leaning heavily on his axe staring quizzically at this work.
"By all means, feel free," the elf retorted, offering the bloody animal.
"No, lad, you continue. A pointy eared, elvish princeling like you should learn the skills to survive out in the wild. Out here there's no Dorwinion or warm bath to keep you happy," Gimli joked, rather seriously.
"You're right I do need the practice. The last few years have been incredibly easy and I'm feeling rather pampered and well-fed!" Legolas answered gesturing at himself. It was true. The two of them had lost quite a bit of weight. Jokingly, Legolas would say Gimli looked like a young man rather than a dwarf. Legolas himself had let his hair grow long down his back and no longer bothered with braids. Instead his pale hair was pulled back with simple fabric. Overall he was tanner than most elves ever became, even Silvans.
Turning to Legolas, Gimil asked, "How soon will we arrive in Mirkwood?"
"The trees do not seem timid or restless as with storms or danger…In less than a week?" He frowned, "are you worried at all?"
The dwarf shifted, "naturally-err no-of course not!"
Legolas laughed brightly, as the river rippling in the moonlight, "mellon you may speak your mind with me. Our people have quelled for centuries, our fathers distrusted each other...however, I have been gone for far too long, and I doubt there is anything my lord would refuse me...unless that be peace and quiet"
"Peace and quiet?"
"Aye! I fear you may find yourself in the midst of a welcoming party in my honor", the elf said bitterly, "though, there is always excellent food and merry song. It is not something to miss, our feasts of starlight" he trailed off.
"Tell me of your land," Gimli asked shyly. While agreeing to go to Mirkwood, he still was prideful and didn't want to seem eager or interested in elven culture. Yet his experience in Lothlorien was truly wondrous, and he wanted to know more about this land if he was to be present in the monarch's halls.
"If we are to wait for this deer to cook, I may as well have to entertainment!" He commanded more strongly.
Legolas look surprised but leaned back, gazing at the stars, the moonlight and firelight giving blue eyes a violet hue.
"Before the war, there was always song, merriment, feasts...my people had many children as well. You could here them play in the forest, chasing after wild things. The night was never feared and we would hardly sleep at all during the warm summer nights. My father's halls were mainly empty as they were not needed," suddenly he looked sad, "My father was different as well...He would laugh with his people. He would sing too. He often said that if my grandfather had not taken the crown he would have been a minstrel. I doubt it...anyway, what's important is that this land will heal again into what it once was. That I'm sure of. You will enjoy yourself, Gimli Gloin's son, that I am also sure of."
Gazing at the embers flying into the night sky, they fell quiet. Dreaming of rest and of home.